Dungeons & Dragons: Best Character Builds For Curse Of Strahd
Summary
- Choose powerful character builds like the zealous barbarian for extra radiant damage.
- Include support-focused classes, such as the monk of mercy, for party healing abilities.
- Optimize your character by selecting subclasses like the monster slayer ranger for insights into Strahd's weaknesses.
Make no mistake, Curse of Strahd is an incredibly difficult Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Character death can prove frequent if you're not careful, and it's not uncommon for people to go through a few different characters when adventuring through the iconic Domain of Dread known as Barovia. So, if you're hoping to make it out alive, you're going to need a good character.
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PostsThat's why we've created this list of character options. If you and your party are going to have any hope of taking down Strahd von Zarovich, you're going to want to pick one of these powerful character builds.
10 Cleric Of The Sun
Epilogue via Wizards of the CoastCharacter Build
Details
Species
Aasimar
Class & Subclass
Light Domain Cleric
Background
Hermit
Because the Curse of Strahd module is so dark and grim, a lot of players may choose to make a character as macabre as the setting they're playing in. However, because so many different creatures you'll combat are vulnerable to radiant damage, it can be more helpful to play a character that's sunny and optimistic.
For clerics, the best option at your disposal is to select the light domain as your subclass, as this gives you access to spells like Daylight, which can prove devastating to creatures in Barovia. Aasimar can choose the ability to spread bright light, which is helpful as well. Plus, the hermit background will help increase your wisdom and constitution, which is great for clerics.
9 Support Alchemist
Vistani Wagon via Wizards of the CoastCharacter Build
Details
Species
Rock Gnome
Class & Subclass
Alchemist Artificer
Background
Sage
When playing through the Curse of Strahd module, it's important to have as many classes available in your party who can offer some healing abilities. After all, you don't want to leave everything to the cleric or paladin. That's why the alchemist is such a great subclass option for Strahd.
With this subclass, not only do you get access to spells like Healing Word, but you can create Experimental Elixirs that can help heal yourself and your compatriots. Choose Rock Gnome and Sage to get buffs to your Intelligence saves and Intelligence stats for a truly optimized build.
8 Zealous Barbarian
Barbarian by Denman RookeCharacter Build
Details
Species
Orc
Class & Subclass
Path of the Zealot Barbarian
Background
Soldier
Similar to the light domain for clerics, the path of the zealot barbarian gets access to extra radiant damage beginning at level three when this subclass is selected. In addition to this radiant damage, you also gain the ability to heal yourself, which, as mentioned, is always a boon for a run through Barovia.
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PostsOrcs gain access to darkvision, which is helpful for working your way through the catacombs in Barvoia. Plus, the soldier background will grant buffs to all of your physical stats, helping to optimize your barbarian's overall build.
7 The Ghostly Bard
Mordent by Julian KokCharacter Build
Details
Species
Drow Elf
Class & Subclass
College of Spirits Bard
Background
Charlatan
While there are many ways to play against the spooky elements in Curse of Strahd, there are also many ways to lean into the atmosphere of the campaign, while also optimizing your build. The college of whispers bard is one such way to do this. This bard gains special abilities for their inspiration depending on what they roll on the die.
Plus, at third level, whenever you cast a healing spell, you can grant a bonus to your healing, which, again, will prove extremely useful in Barovia. For extra flavor, you can have a lot of fun using your Spirit Session ability at level six, which allows you to channel spirits and learn extra spells from any class of your choosing.
6 Starlight Druid
Circle of the Stars by Marcela MedeirosTransport via Plants by Rob Alexander
Character Build
Details
Species
Any
Class & Subclass
Circle of Stars Druid
Background
Sage
Continuing the trend of selecting support-focused subclasses, choosing the circle of stars for your druid is extremely helpful in Barovia. Not only does this subclass grant you abilities that can increase your damage, but you can also gain abilities that heal your compatriots, meaning once again, all the healing won't just be left to the cleric.
Plus, because the Curse of Strahd adventure usually runs through to level ten, this subclass is great as you get a fantastic ability right at level ten known as Twinkling Constellations. This increases the dice rolled for most of your constellation abilities, and you can change constellations midway through a fight if you so desire.
5 Healing Monk
Monk by Joshua RaphaelCharacter Build
Details
Species
Chthonic Tiefling
Class & Subclass
Way of Mercy Monk
Background
Guide
Monks might not seem like the obvious choice for a trek through the Domains of Dread, but they can actually prove useful with the right subclass. Once again, the monk of mercy gives monks the chance to help heal their allies on the field of battle.
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PostsCombine this with the chthonic tiefling, which grants players resistance to necrotic damage, and your monk will be hard to take down. A lot of the most devastating attacks you might encounter in Barovia deal necrotic damage, so frankly, while this species selection is great for monks who are likely to be in melee range, this is a great option for any build as well.
4 Seeking Vengeance
Heart of Sorrow via Wizards of the CoastCharacter Build
Details
Species
Dragonborn (Any)
Class & Subclass
Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Background
Charlatan
Vegeance paladins are always a fun subclass to play across many modules. However, they're particularly well-suited to Curse of Strahd for one reason in particular: you are likely to fight Strahd himself many times throughout your adventure.
In doing so, and because the vengeance paladin has access to spells like Bane, Hunter's Mark, and their Vow of Enmity feature, you're more likely to do more damage on a single, specified target. There are many larger group combat elements in Strahd as well, but these features are still best-suited to one-on-one combat, which is the main combat element in the module.
3 Ranger Of Darkness
Character Build
Details
Species
Any
Class & Subclass
Gloom Stalker Ranger
Background
Farmer or Guide
Rangers are, frankly, an underappreciated class in Dungeons & Dragons. This next build option allows players to lean into the macabre elements of Strahd by selecting the gloom stalker subclass. With this subclass, you can inflict extra psychic damage on opponents (which most creatures in Strahd don't have resistance to), you gain darkvision if you don't have it already, and, most importantly, you can gain the invisible condition while in darkness.
This is great for being stealthy during combat encounters in Curse of Strahd. Ultimately, because Strahd only goes to level ten, you will miss out on some higher-level abilities, but this subclass is still a great option for the module overall.
2 Van Helsing
Tale of the Vistani via Wizards of the CoastCharacter Build
Details
Species
Drow or Wood Elf
Class & Subclass
Monster Slayer Ranger
Background
Farmer or Guide
If you want to live out your monster hunter, Van Helsing fantasy, this next build is the one for you. Another ranger build option, select either drow or wood elf to gain darkvision or extra speed, plus access to a variety of helpful spells. Farmer or guide helps increase key stats for rangers, which is always great as well.
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Posts 2The key element behind this build is the monster slayer subclass, which grants you access to spells like Magic Circle and Protection From Evil and Good, which are both great for this module. The best reason to pick this subclass, though, is that you can use Hunter's Sense on Strahd. If you're not one to metagame, this ability grants you insight into Strahd's immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities, which is extremely helpful.
1 Magical Abjurer
A Scholarly Magic-User by Billy ChristianCharacter Build
Details
Species
Any
Class & Subclass
Abjuration Wizard
Background
Scribe or Criminal
Last but not least, the abjuration wizard is a great selection for Curse of Strahd thanks to their excellent support abilities. Plus, having a wizard is always great for Strahd, since Barovia is a highly magical land. Being able to use Counterspell against Strahd without having to prepare it is a huge boon as well.
Plus, you can ward and protect your compatriots with magical shields. This is great for use on a party member who's more likely to get in melee range with Strahd, and can really turn the tide of battle if used correctly.
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Like Follow FollowedDungeons and Dragons
9.0/10 Franchise Dungeons & Dragons Original Release Date 1974 Publisher Wizards of the Coast Designer E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson Player Count 2+ Expand Collapse
